Rahivea Palace
This palace is the home of the Seelie monarchs in the capital of the Seelie Kingdom.
The palace was graceful and bright with tall arching ceilings and chandeliers glittering overhead. At first glance, it reminded me of a grand mediterranean-style castle, but what I had initially thought to be a green rug running down the polished marble floor was actually soft moss under my shoes.
Vines climbed along the pale plaster walls. Falling water tinkled as gleaming rivulets poured down the walls of alcoves into marble pools at the bottom. I caught a flash of gold darting under a pond lily in one.
From The Books:
The Palace Interior:The palace was graceful and bright with tall arching ceilings and chandeliers glittering overhead. At first glance, it reminded me of a grand mediterranean-style castle, but what I had initially thought to be a green rug running down the polished marble floor was actually soft moss under my shoes.
Vines climbed along the pale plaster walls. Falling water tinkled as gleaming rivulets poured down the walls of alcoves into marble pools at the bottom. I caught a flash of gold darting under a pond lily in one.
***
We stopped at the entrance to a great hall with many long tables draped in white linen. Twinkling lanterns danced overhead, not held up by anything as far as I could see. The walls were draped with garlands of wheat and flowers. The hall buzzed with chatter from the tall, stately fae milling around.
We stepped into a sitting room. Two couches and a low polished table faced a marble fireplace. The outlines of golden flowers crawled up the white plaster walls. Instead of a back wall, gauzy curtains drifted between stone pillars.
I walked across the tiled marble floors—with moss between the slabs instead of grout—running my hand along the burnished gold edges of one of the couches and stepped through the curtains onto the balcony.
As I stepped outside, I felt a tingle and then the air warmed. There must be some sort of magical air conditioning going on inside. On the balcony sat a table with two chairs and plants everywhere. Some were potted in the corners, some spilled down from somewhere higher up. Vines wrapped around the edges of the railing and continued down. But what took my breath away was the view.
***
Ella's Rooms in The Glass Gate: (The west wing)
Tiernan led me to the same wing as my rooms were in, but we took a different staircase. A tall fae man stood guard at the doorway, a spear in his hand. He nodded to Tiernan as we passed.
The corridor was lush with moss underfoot, like my area, but darker with a jungle of plants arching overhead. Flickering lanterns of gold and glass added to the light from occasional windows.
The corridor was lush with moss underfoot, like my area, but darker with a jungle of plants arching overhead. Flickering lanterns of gold and glass added to the light from occasional windows.
***
Imogen led me down the hall and past the tall, grand staircase I usually used. She pressed her hand on a lever and a section of the wall slid out to reveal another set of stairs. This explained why I had seen so few servants in the hallways.
We stepped into a sitting room. Two couches and a low polished table faced a marble fireplace. The outlines of golden flowers crawled up the white plaster walls. Instead of a back wall, gauzy curtains drifted between stone pillars.
I walked across the tiled marble floors—with moss between the slabs instead of grout—running my hand along the burnished gold edges of one of the couches and stepped through the curtains onto the balcony.
As I stepped outside, I felt a tingle and then the air warmed. There must be some sort of magical air conditioning going on inside. On the balcony sat a table with two chairs and plants everywhere. Some were potted in the corners, some spilled down from somewhere higher up. Vines wrapped around the edges of the railing and continued down. But what took my breath away was the view.
***
The rest of the rooms included a bedroom with a fireplace in the corner and a tall, four-poster bed draped with white gauze curtains. I ran my hand across the bedspread. Silk. A carved wooden wardrobe stood against one wall.
***
Next she showed me the bathroom—white marble again—with vines surrounding the large open window. Steps led down to what Imogen called a tub but looked to me more like a pond. It was large with clear blue water and floating lily pads and lilies. I dipped in my hand and found it to be the perfect temperature for bathing. A small current stirred the water, keeping the pool fresh.
And, happily, faerie castles appeared to have indoor plumbing. There was a small room with a toilet and a sink with a large mirror.
And, happily, faerie castles appeared to have indoor plumbing. There was a small room with a toilet and a sink with a large mirror.
Tiernan's Rooms in The Glass Gate:
He opened the door to a suite of rooms, similar in size to mine but furnished in rich wood and green velvet.
Spears, swords, and daggers hung on display over a fireplace. A suit of chainmail and one of leather armor hung on stands in one corner.
We strolled down the flower-lined path, the little brownie trailing behind. It looked like a big basket for someone knee high, but Tiernan didn't so much as glance back.
When we reached the pond, we admired the silvery fish with their long, graceful fins. Meanwhile, the brownie spread out a picnic blanket and opened the basket.
He opened the door to a suite of rooms, similar in size to mine but furnished in rich wood and green velvet.
Spears, swords, and daggers hung on display over a fireplace. A suit of chainmail and one of leather armor hung on stands in one corner.
***
The Gardens:
“Coming!” I shut the door behind me and followed Tiernan across the sitting room to his study. A large desk took up much of the room. Two extra chairs stood in front of it. For Saoirse and Declan, I guessed.
The wall behind the desk was covered with built-in bookcases, although most of what was on it appeared to be tightly wound scrolls and notebooks with handwritten spines.
The wall across from the window had a map of a large island. I went up to examine it closer. It was hand drawn and beautifully done. This must be Tír na nÓg.
There were golden stars dotted across it, like shining constellations. I touched one.
The wall behind the desk was covered with built-in bookcases, although most of what was on it appeared to be tightly wound scrolls and notebooks with handwritten spines.
The wall across from the window had a map of a large island. I went up to examine it closer. It was hand drawn and beautifully done. This must be Tír na nÓg.
There were golden stars dotted across it, like shining constellations. I touched one.
***
“Here’s the mirror.” Tiernan gestured to a shallow golden bowl held up by the branches of a tree, also made of gold. It reminded me of the Glass Gate, and I wondered if Miss Chloe had made this one as well.
***
“Of course not.” Tiernan gathered up a pen and a few papers from the desk. “I'll just be outside. Don't worry, my study is spelled to keep eavesdroppers from listening in.”
The Sewing Room:
One wall was entirely windows, letting in the morning light through diamond-paned glass. Another held floor-to-ceiling shelves stacked with bolts of fabric, rolls of trim, and glittering jewels.
***
Fae of all kinds worked at tables the perfect heights for them, and scattered throughout the workroom were dress forms of more sizes and shapes than I had imagined possible.
***
“As you can see,” she gestured with her arm, “this is where we store the fabric. The most common fabrics start here, and they progressively get more precious as you go down the aisle.”
I looked at all the neatly stacked bolts of material. It was like a fabric warehouse on steroids. Ladders of various sizes leaned up against the shelves. On the top were the large bolts, and they got smaller as I went down. I would guess they saved the scraps from larger garments to make smaller garments. Very efficient.
I examined what felt like lightweight wool. Each bolt had a tag hanging off the end and, of course, they were arranged not only by fabric type but by color within the sections. The left section was mostly browns, greens, and blues. I recognized the gardener's uniform fabric amongst the linen.
***
I looked at all the neatly stacked bolts of material. It was like a fabric warehouse on steroids. Ladders of various sizes leaned up against the shelves. On the top were the large bolts, and they got smaller as I went down. I would guess they saved the scraps from larger garments to make smaller garments. Very efficient.
I examined what felt like lightweight wool. Each bolt had a tag hanging off the end and, of course, they were arranged not only by fabric type but by color within the sections. The left section was mostly browns, greens, and blues. I recognized the gardener's uniform fabric amongst the linen.
“Fifteen seamstresses spent an entire day making you a dress,” corrected Grainne.
***
I followed the piskie as she flew across the room to a work table where my pink dress lay spread out. Or, I should say, the remains of the dress.
One brownie with a pair of wickedly sharp scissors efficiently chopped the dress down into pieces. The bodice was removed and the boning stacked in a neat pile. The ribbons that had laced up the back had been wound around a wooden spool. Kiyo scampered across the table to where a pile of crystal beads lay. The brownie carefully sliced the seams of the skirt.
***
One brownie with a pair of wickedly sharp scissors efficiently chopped the dress down into pieces. The bodice was removed and the boning stacked in a neat pile. The ribbons that had laced up the back had been wound around a wooden spool. Kiyo scampered across the table to where a pile of crystal beads lay. The brownie carefully sliced the seams of the skirt.
Grainne shrugged. She must be used to careless nobles. “If it's a particularly distinctive fabric, we naturally wait a while before making something else. So yes, some clothing is cut down for smaller garments, and some are sold at the market in town.”
***
I scanned around the room in the direction she had left and saw a row of shelves filled with rolls of paper, probably for drafting patterns. Cautiously, I walked over and peeked around the shelves.
***
I'd happily spent my free time exploring and sketching in the sewing room. I flitted from watching lace being tatted by a group of piskies at one station to a brownie drafting the pattern of a dress for a fae with two tails and then to a small horned fae Grainne introduced as a spellcrafter who was busy enchanting golden thread to ward off carriage sickness.
***
The Kitchens:
Soon, we opened up into a clattering and noisy kitchen. Like the seamstress workshop, it was set up with stations at various heights for the various workers.
My guide led me past spits of roasting meat and tiny faeries with large knives slicing vegetables to a table that came up to about mid-thigh on me.
My guide led me past spits of roasting meat and tiny faeries with large knives slicing vegetables to a table that came up to about mid-thigh on me.
We strolled down the flower-lined path, the little brownie trailing behind. It looked like a big basket for someone knee high, but Tiernan didn't so much as glance back.
When we reached the pond, we admired the silvery fish with their long, graceful fins. Meanwhile, the brownie spread out a picnic blanket and opened the basket.
Fun facts
Location: Seelie Kingdom
Residents: Tiernan, Ella, Kiyohime, Mizuchi, Declan, Saoirse, Grainne, Isla, Imogen,
Gate: The Glass Gate
Residents: Tiernan, Ella, Kiyohime, Mizuchi, Declan, Saoirse, Grainne, Isla, Imogen,
Gate: The Glass Gate
Pronunciation: Rah-hiv-ee-ah
Article by Channon